The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-02-03
oUP PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE 9rF.aEloNAE. NEEDS OF
til T. i'EO"LE or THE STATE.
Some Opli"ns Ahont school Matters
based pom the Report OF Superinicn-
dent Finger.


Based ipon the Report OF Superinicn-
dent Finger.
In lS.. when Hon John G. Scarborough
tion il North Carolina he found few
schools. few school houses, no system, no
interest in public education-no anything
that could serve as an index TO the pro
gress made during the last tell years in
the line OF making our public schools meet
the acmania upon them.
Mr.. Sea arborough came into office with
the "a. Democratic admin stratlon Oh
things had passed away. The pulse OF Ia
tellectual activity was beginning TO beat
faster. Democratic rue was hailed as the
rule of the intelligent majority. The
alumni Of the University began to think
that there was hope OF resurrection tor
the much loved mother. The people be
.an to wake up on the need for increased
education and the common" school sys-
tenn, tired of its misnomer, became the
Public School System with a big "P."
The University, which is and ought >tlli
more truly to be the head Of the Public
school system, was reopened. 1t stood
IN its reiuvenated strength as the monu-
lnent to the rule of intelligence. There
were those who denied aid when the ap-
peal WAS made to open its doors and recall
the. sons Of North Carolina who We're
seeking an education in other halls OF
learning But under Democratic admins
tration it was rec pened. 1t was the child
of the ''New" Democracy and it was cher
ished 10 its halls there came the sons Of
the fallen heroes who had lost their lives
on an hundred battle fields. Alas. poverty
grim, gaunt poverty, kept many away.
There came to those Halls men and boy
who were the first of their kin 10 seek col
legatc training. There came boys whose
fathers could not read, and the gates flew
open % their knock and t4ey WED III gen
erous rivalry with the sons Of The men
who for generations had been public men,
men famous IN the state. 1t Is a college
for the rich could not, cannot again b.
sad of the University Of North Carolina.
Coming short of what its best friends
hoPed and still hope TO see i, the UniEer-
shy since its rc-opening has done a eat
work and Is to-day doing a greater @orS
for the commonwealth. And 10 be mum
berel not among the least of its good re-
suits is tie great army of teachers it has
sent out to teach i'll the Graded and othe
public schools in the State.
Keeping pace with-or following close
,behind-the University and the Colleges
rsras ~ Pablo ,:s,4cols- tbs .aAo 5clio1',
1sugtlf to be greatly in advance because the
need for them is greater than that Of any
school designed to impart higher educa-
ton. Until recent years the word com
mon" expressed not only their character
but the esteem in which they We're held
in many localities. Happily this notion
is losing ground. Unfortunately for the.
best interests of the State the present
system of public schools has OF the cor
dial and earnest support of large number
OF our people.
This is not due to any failure on the part
of our present able and industrious ana
level headed Superintendent or his worthy
predecessor in office. There still fingers
in some localities q kind Of objection to
the education of the whole people. There
is greater objection still to the education
of the negro But neither Of these are the
controlling causes why our educational
progress has not been as rapid as is to
To Hpl hn
must look into the pockets of the people
They are and have been for twenty years
very poor. Taxes have been hard TO pay
1t i, difficult for a man who is very poor
to get up great enthusiasm on the subject
of education. There is need OF Il better
nlunent in favor Of pubic schools. If
this >'!ietter-sentiment" could lee secure, l.,
more progress could be made in spite of
the poverty of the people. Commenting
on this subject Maj Finger, our efficient
Superintendent of Public Schools, says:
Education al the expense of the State is
a part of modern civilization. It cannot
be successfully resisted. Especially is this
so in a Republican form of government,
such as that of the United States Ii
there is any one thing that stands out
prominently in the history of the country,
it is the stress that has ali the time been
laid upon the Importance Of education for
the people.
The Constitution of North Carolina
says: The people have a right to the
privilege of education, and it i the dat}
of the State TO guard ana maintain that
right" This doctrine is fundamental and
thpf.p fore y utuSt have, rppOunIf
There are now and always have been
persons, in our State and in all the States,
who say that it is wrong 10 tax one man
to educate another mans children, forget
ful of this fundamental right: forgetful OF
the fact that the safety of lie and prop
erty and the welfare of the State depend
upon the virtue and intelligence Of the
people. Such persons try to make it ap-
pear that the public schools produce
crime, because in some communities where
they have hOurished crime has not decreas
ed or perhaps, has increased. They are
not mindful of the fact that, if in such
communities crime has Increased as shown
by the number of arrests, there has also
been a large increase of criminal statutes
which NAV account for them. Courses OF
conduct are now often criminal under
statute laws, which were not criminal be
fore their enactment. They are not mind
full of the fact that any increase of crime
might be accounted for by a number OF
causes consequent upon the ever changing
conditions of the population of such com
munites.
The facts are that if there is real in
crease of crime IN such communities
which is to be doubted figures 10 the con
ttary, notwithstanding, it occurs in spite
! of all remedial agencies and not b. C aus
/ of any one of them. 1t may be true. n
| doubtless is, that the public schools har'
not done az much as they might hav'
done, but this is no reason for wholesale
condemnation. 1t is rather a reason VIII,